Bloomingdale's opens shop at Potomac Mills

Rachel Lyle, 16, and the Urban Nation Hip-Hop Choir, sing and dance during the opening ceremonies for the Bloomingdale's outlet store at Potomac Mills on Friday.

By: Aileen Streng | Inside NoVA
Published: August 20, 2010

Another high-end retailer has opened an outlet store at Potomac Mills mall.

Bloomingdale's chose the Woodbridge mall as its first outlet in the country.

Mall walkers and others who came to the mall Friday morning before it opened where treated to free coffee and entertainment in celebration of the grand opening.

The 25,000-square-foot store is located in the former Sports Authority space in Neighborhood One.

The high energy teen group Urban Nation of Washington sang and danced to the delight of all who watched.

"We're very excited you are here," said Arnie Orlick, senior vice president of outlet stores for Bloomingdales, to the gathered crowd.

"We're very happy to be part of your community. We look forward to serving you the best we can in a wonderful shopping environment with wonderful customer service."

Following a ribbon cutting, Orlick invited the shoppers inside. "We hope you find exactly what I just said," he said.

Bloomingdale's is just the latest of several new stores -- including several designers -- that have opened or will open in Neighborhood One. Over the past year, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Calvin Klein Company Store, Coach Factory Store and J. Crew Factory Store have opened. Juicy Couture and Lacoste will be coming later this year.

"We are very excited about the grand opening of The Outlet Store -- Bloomingdale's as it proves how Potomac Mills means more stores, more brands, more savings and more fun," said Mike Sullivan, general manager of the mall.

"Potomac Mills is already a popular stop for visitors in the D.C. area, and the addition of this premier shopping opportunity will only enhance our appeal to both local and out-of-town customers," Sulli-van said.

Orlick said Bloomingdale's is planning on opening three other outlets, one in New Jersey and two in Florida.

Potomac Mills was chosen because it is a successful outlet with "great retailers and great name recognition," Orlick said.

It became the first outlet for Bloomingdale's because the right amount of retail space at Potomac Mills was available and negotiations with the Mills Corporation were successful.

"We know the customers in this region from our other stores and we think they will follow us here," Orlick said.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-530-3907.